messages. The failure or refusal of the consignor to accept such charges will not entitle such shipper to notification on future shipments unless so ordered by the Railroad Commission. No. 63. ACCIDENTS. All express companies in South Carolina are required to comply with Section 3228 of the General Statutes of South Carolina, "Accidents, Notice to be Given," and Rule No. 14 of the Railroad Commission, "Accidents." Rules and Regulations as to Telegraph Service No. 64. TELEGRAPH RATES. No telegraph company shall charge or collect more than thirty (30c.) cents for any message of ten words or less, exclusive of date, address and signature, between any two points within the limits of this State, on its lines, nor more than 211⁄2 cents for each additional word on a day message, and no more than 11⁄2 cents for each additional word on a night message. No independent telegraph office where messages are received and transmitted for the public shall be discontinued or abolished without first obtaining the consent of this Commission, upon an application duly filed by the said company desiring such discontinuance, wherein shall be stated the reason therefor; it being understood that this refers to the main offices, and does not include branches of the main offices at any place. Such branches may be opened or closed as the exigencies of business may require. Whenever a message is sent over two or more telegraph lines owned, controlled and operated by separate and distinct corporations or individuals, the joint rate shall not exceed the sum of forty (40c.) cents for such message, of ten body words or less, exclusive of date, address and signature, between any two points within the limits of this State, nor more than three (3c.) cents for each additional word. No telegraph company shall make any charge or collect any amount for delivering messages in towns or cities whose corporate limits do not exceed one and one-fourth (1 1-4) miles, and all messages shall be delivered in a radius of one and one-quarter (1 1-4) miles from the center of the town or city free of charge in towns and cities whose radius exceeds one and one-quarter (1 1-4) miles. No. 65. ANNUAL REPORTS REQUIRED. On or before March 1st of each year the telegraph companies shall make to the Railroad Commission an annual report of their operations in the State of South Carolina, including receipts and expenses, for the year ending December 31st, preceding. No. 66. GENERAL RULE. All Rules and Regulations herein prescribed for the government of railroads are to be regarded as applying with equal force and effect to telegraph companies doing business in this State: Provided, Such application is practicable, and not inconsistent with the laws of this State or of the United States, and not in conflict with the Rules and Regulations of the Commission herein distinctively prescribed for the government of telegraph compa nies. No. 67. ACCIDENTS. All telegraph companies in South Carolina are required to comply with Section 3228 of the General Statutes of South Carolina, "Accidents, Notice to be Given," and Rule No. 14 of the Railroad Commission, "Accidents." Rules and Regulations as to Telephone Companies No. 68. ANNUAL REPORTS REQUIRED. On or before the first day of March of each year, all telephone companies shall make to the Railroad Commission an annual report of their operations in the State of South Carolina, including rates and expenses for twelve (12) months ending December 31st preceding. Said report to be made on blanks as furnished by said Railroad Commission, and a separate report shall be made for each exchange where one company operates one or more exchanges. No. 69. MANNER OF HANDLING COMPLAINTS. All complaints made by firms, corporations or individuals as to any telephone company doing business in this State, shall be addressed to the Railroad Commission in writing, setting forth in detail, as near as possible, the condition complained of, and the remedy desired. When any such communication is received, the Secretary of the Commission shall send a copy of said communication to the telephone company complained of in said communication, and it shall be the duty of such telephone company, upon receipt from this Commission of a copy of said complaint, to immediately investigate the same and report to this Commission, notifying said Commission within thirty (30) days of their answer to said complaint. Upon the answer of said telephone company complained of being served upon this Commission, the Commission shall call a meeting for a formal hearing by this Board, the day being named by the Commission for said hearing, and the following procedure shall prevail: (a) This Commission shall designate the time, place and hour at which such hearing shall be had, and the Secretary of this Commission shall notify interested parties in writing to this effect. (b) All testimony given at such hearing shall be under oath. (c) At such hearing, the burden of proof shall be upon the party complaining, and the individual, firm or corporation against which complaint is made, shall be heard in reply. (d) The decision of this Commission shall be in writing, and a copy of the same shall be given to each of the parties interested. No. 70. TELEPHONE RATES. On or before the first day of March each year, each telephone company shall file with this Commission a separate report for each exchange operated by it in any city or town in this State, and all rates or charges for telephone service at said exchange shall be submitted to this Commission for approval. No. 71. CONTRACTS AS TO RATES. All contracts and agreements as to any rates or charges for services or connections, made between any exchange or exchanges, and any private lines, must first be submitted to this Commission for approval. No. 72. ACQUIRING ADDITIONAL LINES. All additional lines and connections acquired by purchase or otherwise by any telephone company or exchange, must be reported immediately to this Commission, giving schedule of rates charged, number of telephones, etc. No. 73. REPORTS AS TO TOLL RATES. All toll rates or long-distance charges to and from all places within the State of South Carolina, must be reported to this Commission in detail on or before the first day of March; and any changes on said toll or long-distance charges must be submitted to this Commission immediately. No. 74. FIXING RATES FOR NEW EXCHANGES. Any telephone company establishing a telephone exchange in any city or town in this State, shall file with this Commission a schedule of rates, charges, etc., for services in said city or town, to be approved by this Commission, and said rates shall not go into effect until they are approved by this Commission. No. 75. CHANGING RATES. Any telephone company operating a telephone exchange in any city or town in this State, which desires to change the rates charged for telephone services in such city or town, from the rates charged by such company on the 25th day of February, A. D. 1904, where the rates are not limited by the franchise under which said company is operating in such city or town, shall be allowed to do so by agreement with the subscribers connected with such exchange; failing to secure such agreement from the subscribers connected with such exchange, no change shall be made in such rates without the consent of this Commission. One or more of such subscribers may petition for a hearing, said petition to be made as prescribed in Rule 69. All telephone companies in South Carolina are required to comply with Section 3228 of the General Statutes of South Carolina, "Accidents, Notice to be Given," and Rule No. 14 of the Railroad Commission, “Accidents.” SPECIFICATIONS FOR OVERHEAD CROSSINGS OF 1. Crossing of Electric Light and Power Transmission Lines and Telegraph and Telephone Lines now existing or that may hereafter be constructed over railroad rights of way, tracks and wires thereupon, or along, shall conform to the following general precautions for the safety of the public and the employees of the railroads: 2. The poles or towers supporting the crossing span and the adjoining span on each side shall be in a straight line, if practicable, shall be securely set in the earth or in suitable masonry foundations, and shall be so guyed or braced as to prevent the wires sagging below the clearances hereinafter specified. pole or tower shall be less than twelve (12) feet from the nearest track, except that at sidings a clearance of seven (7) feet may be allowed, measurement being made from the near rail. No 3. The crossing span shall be as short as practicable and in general, the length of the adjoining span on each side shall not be more than fifty (50 per cent.) per cent. of the length of the crossing span. 4. Electric Light and Power wires shall have a clearance of not less than thirty (30) feet above the top of rail: Provided, That for trolley contact wires, carrying constant potential direct current not exceeding 750 volts, twenty-two (22) feet may be allowed. 5. Telegraph and Telephone wires shall have a clearance of not less than twenty-five (25) feet above the top of rail. 6. Electric Light and Power wires shall cross over Telegraph and Telephone wires, and the clearance between the two classes of wire shall be not less than eight (8) feet. 7. Telegraph and Telephone wires shall clear wires of the same class not less than four (4) feet. |